Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-04-23
The Rear Guard Of the Revolution,

OIiHlHhi bSlllcIs III leHncssccj W hsCci-
tain, the effects OF creeds in causing
Tennesseans, TO hold woman in estima-
tion, other than she is held in Massa
chusetts in, great brevity, | will trace
the movements OF these men, in set
Ting some localities in this State. What
school bog does not know all about it,
has seen pictures Of similar movements
in New England?
| venture the assertion, there is moth
ing in the settlement OF any New Eng
land State, in thrilling actions in ro-
mantle adventures in heroic daring in
school matters, in persistent pety to
be compared 10 what is known OF
these Scotch Irish men and women,
in occupying many OF the localities,
then IN the woods of Tennessee.
| herein, make no irresponsible
statements. Any readers, having be-
fore him, Wheler's History Of N. c.
Foot's sketches, of N. G. Haywood and
Ramsey, can find verified all | herein
assert.
Alter Il few paragraphs we leave East
Tennessee, but leave there the same
people. There is not in the United
States the same population, in the same
territory, as Homogeneous, in blood and
creed, as The people of East Tennessee.
They preceded us in time and exceed
ed us IN zeal, in all school and church h
work, though in closer and tiercer con-
tact with the Indians. What valuable
contributions to the history Of Tennes-
see, would be the records, the tradi-
tions, the memories OF the old men OF
the counties OF that section.
Let us keep in mind our special topic,
church and school work among these
original settlers, their effect on Fed
eral education, and thus upon the most
essential characteristics of any civlliza-
tion.
Let the reader stand with me, on the
banks ofsWatauga river, at Fort Lee, at
Watuga, at any time during the TWEEN
tyyears including and proceeding 1880
He will find on inquiry that the indi-
viduals, the families, the large crowds,
arising during these years, came from
settlements where there were only
Scotch Irish teachers and preachers
The Canicks, the Doaks, the Cummins
are not there to prosolyte, but because
their blood and creed, had proceeded
them, to the number in 1880, of moi
less than 500 and perhaps near 1000, in
all the stations, tents and settlements
joining this original parent "h've."
Now let the reader turn to the West
and in his Imagination, take in the
vast wilderness, filed with wild beasts
and roaming savages.
In the early spring of 1779, Jane,
Robertson leaves, leading the first colo
ny by way of the Cumberland Gap. ano
through Kentucky, in the dead OF win
ter, in the first days OF 1850, crosse
this river on the ice, and are here a
our Nashville. What pictures OF thei
marches and campings could be made
how surprised the children o: Nashville
would be, when informed that these
were their fathers Scotch Irish Presby
terians, in all schools and churches.
We now come to the "Records.
December o2th, 1873. We go on boar,
the boat Adventure, the Flag Boat, Col
John Donelson in command, down tn
Holsten, the Tennessee, up the Ohio
up the Cumberland, on April 9th, IFS
we reached the Big Salt Lick. In tha
boat adventure, there was sister c
Gen. James Robertson, who as the wild
ow Johnson in 1880, married Col. Joh
Cockrill who had become a widowel
He was then living at our Cockrill
Springs. 1t is in the records, that :
the wedding, there was high old tim,
D plenty of bear meat, fiddling an
= dancing"
Now have it from a son Col. Joh
Cockrill of North Alabams, that durin
that voyage, she had charge on Sunda
OF all the children on that boat. 1t
in the members of the family her,
that during the week, she taught re-
ular school. You cannot begin at I'll
first riyulet and trace more clearly tt
flow OF our river into the Ohio, tina
we can start IN Ireland, cross the ocea
land in New Jersey, Western Pennsy
vania, Western Virginia, a North Car
lima congregate at Watauga, move on
this Nashville, with our blood ar
creed, church and school.
We have here in the summer OF lis
nearly 900, men, women and childre
and we know, certainly their blood al
creed sentiments.